A passenger vessel which found itself in distress and taking on water while in the Gulf of Paria, had a timely rescue by the Coast Guard, on Thursday 22 October 2020.
According to an official statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a report at about 11:10 am on Thursday, concerning a vessel in need of rescue in the Gulf of Paria.
The passenger vessel, named ‘BCSL Endeavor’, had nine occupants on-board and was taking in water. The initial report of the vessel in distress was made by the vessel’s agent, Broadway Surveillance Systems.
The Coast Guard responded immediately to the distress call and began to work with the agent to coordinate a rescue operation.
The vessel’s last known position was determined and a pilot vessel was dispatched to render assistance, while the Coast Guard activated one of its capital assets to join the search.
The pilot vessel finds the life rafts containing the passengers from the BCSL Endeavour. (Image courtesy Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard)
The pilot vessel arrived on-scene quickly, and discovered that the BCSL Endeavor was already fully submerged in a position approximately two Nautical Miles West of Point Lisas, and all occupants were already on-board life rafts.
A Coast Guard vessel ensures the stranded persons are transferred on-board and the life rafts recovered. (Image courtesy Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard asset arrived not long after and ensured the personnel were safely transferred aboard and the life rafts recovered.
A search also was made in the area to recover personal items.
The men were taken to TTCG headquarters at Staubles Bay, where they were medically examined and allowed to leave.
A Coast Guard vessel ensures the stranded persons are transferred on-board and the life rafts recovered. (Image courtesy Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard)
